Role of NEK2A in human cancer and its therapeutic potentials

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:862461. doi: 10.1155/2015/862461. Epub 2015 Feb 1.

Abstract

Chromosome instability (CIN) has been identified as a common feature of most human cancers. A number of centrosomal kinases are thought to cause CIN in cancer cells. Part of those centrosomal kinases exhibit elevated expression in a wide variety of tumours and cancer cell lines. Additionally, critical roles in many aspects of cancer cell growth, proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance have been assigned to some of these centrosomal kinases, such as polo-like kinase 1 (PLk1) and Aurora-A kinase. Recent studies from our group and others revealed that a centrosomal kinase, Never in Mitosis (NIMA) Related Kinase 2A (NEK2A), is frequently upregulated in multiple types of human cancers. Uncontrolled activity of NEK2A activates several oncogenic pathways and ABC transporters, thereby leading to CIN, cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and enhanced drug resistance. In this paper, we highlight recent findings on the aberrant expression and functional significance of NEK2A in human cancers and emphasize their significance for therapeutic potentials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation / genetics*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Mitosis / genetics
  • NIMA-Related Kinases
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / therapeutic use

Substances

  • NEK2 protein, human
  • NIMA-Related Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases